Vibration Induced Settlement From Blast Densification and Pile Driving

This paper describes settlement and vibration environments produced by two construction activities, blast densification and pile driving. Blasting is of interest because of the significant energy released during the process, and piling effects are of great interest because of their universal use in construction. The paper begins with a consideration of the distribution of surface settlement from other construction induced losses of ground that are more familiar. Details of several case studies form the basis for the following general discussion of the settlements resulting from blasting and piling. These two techniques are related in that they have been found to be most effective only with liquefiable sands. Finally, the paper ends with a comparison of piling induced settlements with those resulting from expected loss of lateral support during excavation in sands.